Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-11-26
CHAPTER Y.
IN SIGHT,

BEFORE Lney reached CallOun, however,
Andrews was released from his perilous
position. After he had chatted with the
conductor and engineer Of the down
freight for some time and found them in
disposed to go on their way, he said in the
most matter Of fact and positive manner:
al must press on without more delay.
Pull your engine ahead and let mo out"
When the order was given in this direct
form they were obliged to obey or give a
good reason for refusing; and it may he
considered certain that il they had de-
laycd, though Andrews did not threaten
violence, yet Our engineers would at once
have taken control and executed the
order, probably not without bloodsicd.
AT last we are on the main track, with
no train betWeen lis II Chattanooga!
and il the reports from Huntsville are
true there is no obstruction west of tina
town. rs Ill travel is cut Off by Mitchell.
There is reason for cXultation on our part.
An open road ahead and scores OF miles of
INSTRUCTED and broken track behind us!
For the whole morning we have been
running with Il train right in front of lis,
Or waiting for a belatcd one. We had
passed five trains, all but one either cx-
tras or behind time-a wonderful achieve
ment! O the way is clear to our OWL
lines; and the 'tY' at Chattanooga is no
more difficult Of passage than any Of the
many side tracks we have already success
fully encountered. No small amount OF
the cxulta.ion WE felt OF first taking the
train was again ours, as We rushed rap
idly on for n mile or more, and then
stopped to cut the wire, and to take up q
rail las we hoped) for the last time. The
OOstcnaula bridge was just ahead, and
when that was burned, we would simply
run from bridge to bridge, firing them
as we passed; and nc more of
this hard %drudgery of track rails
ing and still more terrible work
Of sitting silent and housed in a dark car
waiting for trains to arrive! We had
heard the whistle of Il following train n
dozen miles back, but it probably was one
from Kingston, and if not wrecked by the
broken rail. would return there for tools.
We knew nothing of Fullcr's and Muir
phys pursuit, and if we had been told the
full story, as already narrated, we would
have thought it too wild and improbable
even for good fiction.
But it was expedient to take up this
one rail more before We finally changed
our mode Of operations. A piece Of torn
track had been put before Or after every
train that we had met. 1t was well to
put a broken road behind this passenger
train also, That it might not turn back
after us on any sudden suspicious freak
and come upon us while working at the
Resaca tOostenaula) bridge. The crisis
Of our fate approached, and we believed it
would he triumphantly passed. Nothing
had as yet been lost but time, and If we
were fairly prosperous for fifteen minutes
more, all would be %regained; and the full
tillment OF all u hopes, as far as human
prospects could reach, be in our own
hands.
No wonder that we worked gladly and
cheerfully. Scott climbed the pole with
even more than usual agility. Some
worked at the taking in of all kinds of
combus:ibles, for VIC wished to be well
provided for the bridge. Every stick and
piece Of wood we could get hold of was
soaking wet, but by breaking and whiting
they could be made to add toa flame, and
from the engine, which was kept full of
wood for the purpose, we could give a
good start to q fire. We had only one
iron bar to drive out our spikes; a bent
''crow's foot would have been worth
moro than its weight in gold; but We
hammered away with what we had, and
spike after spike was drawn. IlereI saw
Andrews show real impatience for the
ICSI-l am nOG sure Dut L may say TIC
only-time. He had altered his dress,
throwing off the cape and high hat that
he wore while at stations, and had a
small cap On, which greatly changed his
appearance. The nearing OF the time
when his plans would all eliminate in
success seemed to thrill and inspire him.
lie snatched the iron bar out Of the hands
Of the man who was welding it, and
though we had strong and practiccd
workmen in our party-I had no,
before seen the blows raincd down
with such precision and force. Some
say that he uttered an oath o N this occa'
sion, but though standing by l did moi
hear him, the only words I did hear be-
ing directions about the work, given in
his mild tones, but with quite IN en-
phatic ring of triumph in them. He
wanted that rail up in the fcwest number
Of seconds and then-the bridge! There
were several using q lever of green wood,
and trying to tear up the end Of a rail
from which the spikes had not yet been
drawn; but the lever bent too much, and
. q fence rail was added n we lifted again